If you're reading this, then you're most likely at the point in time where it's worth considering updating or remodeling your home's exterior. There are, to put it lightly, multiple levels to how this can be approached. There's no "One Size Fits All" in any aspect of residential construction, and an exterior remodel is not exempt from that simple truth.
Your home's exterior has many features that, while serving individual purposes, can often become intertwined once considering certain options for remodeling. Those aspects include, but aren't limited to:
-Siding
-Windows/Doors
-Roofing
-Trim
-Gutters
-Decks/Stairs
And the list goes on...
So, how do different aspects of a home's exterior relate to each other in the remodeling process?
This is the golden question to consider throughout the entire process of planning your exterior remodel (or really any major home renovation project.) Without completely boring anyone, or myself, to death, I'll do my best at generally answering that question in relation to the list above.
Here are my thoughts from a General Contracting perspective.
Siding: If you're going to use wood siding, then it's important to keep in mind specific techniques for flashing the windows, doors, and rooflines. This immediately poses the question of whether or not you'll need to remove any trim to properly flash things. If you're using vinyl siding, then those techniques still apply, but you will need to consider how the vinyl will best transition, or join, into non-vinyl materials. These transitions are referred to as joints. Vinyl siding requires a pocket, or J-Channel, to terminate any edges. If you don't like the way J-Channel looks, then you're now in the realm of exploring options for replacing any trim around windows, doors, corners, etc. that will serve as suitable alternative techniques for a proper finished product.
Windows/Doors: Now that you're exploring options for trim, it's worth considering the condition of your existing windows and doors. When was the last time yours were replaced? The reason for asking has everything to do with long-term financial efficiency. There are always solutions for replacing windows and doors later on down the road. The biggest variable to keep in mind here is how much more it will cost to do this work in the future compared to now. Pushing the work for the future is going to require added labor. Since it will be necessary for your carpenter to blend new windows/doors with existing conditions, there will most likely be costs allocated towards removing things, or working backwards, before the real fun stuff even starts.
Roofing: Luckily, roofing tends to be one of the things that can stand alone with most projects. It's not unheard of, though, that a homeowner may install solar panels or skylights prior to scheduling their new roof. Hopefully, you have a good contractor that would warn you of this ahead of time, as overlooking this detail could cost you thousands of dollars in working backwards.
Trim and Gutters: If it's time to replace your gutters and downspouts, then it's worth first inspecting the corner, fascia and soffit trim underneath. If any of those are in rough shape, then it may serve you well to get them, replaced in sync with the gutters. Otherwise, you're met with the same issue of later on having to remove brand new gutters in order to replace rotting trim.
Decks & Stairs: If you're considering a new deck or replacing a set of stairs, then you will definitely want to inspect your exterior doors. If there are any signs of water damage to your door's lower portion or threshold, then it's possible you may have some rot hiding underneath your door where the deck or stairs tie into the main house. Often times, you'll need to remove your exterior door in order to properly execute these repairs and in a way that prevents similar issues in the future. When remodeling stairs or decks, it's also worth considering any possible future color or design changes to your home's exterior.
The ways in which different aspects of construction depend upon each other are really almost inconceivable. At the very least, I hope this entry demonstrates the amount of diligence and attention to detail every remodeling project deserves. There are too many moving pieces to be taken lightly, and just a few simple mistakes can really throw a project off of its course.
If you have any thoughts or questions related to this topic, we'd love to hear your feedback. Whether or not you're looking to remodel your home, we can always benefit from learning from a client or homeowner's perspective.
Give us a call, or shoot an email over to us at CranlandCarpentry@gmail.com , and let's keep the renovation conversation moving in a forward direction!
Alright, back to work.
Ricky Schneider Project Manager, Carpenter
Cranland Carpentry
339-933-5447